(My driving buds do not need to reply. )

I am always amused when I see these posts about this model vs. that model. But here I am for your amusement. I have had the Turbo itch for quite some time running hot and cold. I'm sure my driving buds are getting tired of this. I'm back on the trail as an early 80th birthday present. I'm told I'm not your typical 80-year old, so, ...

My sports car history:
'85 RX-7 GSL-SE (6 years)
'93 RX-7 (over my 14 years ownership taken from 255 hp to 400 hp with complementary suspension and brake mods)
​​'99 C2 (less than 6 mo ownership since it couldn't match up to the RX-7)
'96 993TT (one that got away, 6 mo ownership to buy the next one)
'04 996GT3 (the other one that got away, 10 year ownership)
​​​​'12 997GTS (have had it since '14, bought as CPO)

I do lots of canyon carving. Had done 5-6 weekend DEs until 2007 when I was injured in a motorcycle accident. Not seriously injured, but ankle injury required two surgeries, and two years of rehab. Main reason for selling the GT3, and going to the PDK 997GTS.

So, is it just ego to go after a Turbo S, 408 hp to 530, RWD to AWD, both PDK? I think the interiors are comparable

 

I don’t own a gts but have driven many my friends own I have a996 6speed and an11 TTS very dynamically different driving experiences
I can say my 99 offers me more rewards at lower speeds where as the TTS offers transcontinental rocket ride
for canyon carvings the GTS will more rewarding

 

I’ve also been told that I’m not a typical 80 year old. I had a 991.2 GTS that I let get away. It happened because of a back problem that wouldn’t allow me to drive it. I’m better now but would be happy with a base or S 997.2. I’ve had a couple different cars since my GTS but they don’t satisfy me.

 

I don’t think there is really a question here.

YOLO
enjoy your turbo when you get it.

start hunting

rich

 

The heart wants what it wants, but if you're looking for practical advice, ask yourself this: What percent of your driving time is currently spent at 100% throttle in the GTS? Whatever it is, a TTS will cut that in half. Your consumables will increase and your mid-corner speeds will remain unchanged. Is that a win for you? Or a loss?

Tick-tock...

 

Meh, the GTS has enough power and a glorious note.

The turbo is also so fast that one squeeze of the accelerator and you’re at 100.

I’d keep the GTS.

 

Yes 408 to 530 but don’t forget the extra pounds on the TTS. Drive one and see what you think. The n/a roar always wins for my money.

 

I know, I'm not supposed to chime in ... but ... you mentioned something important ... 2WD vs AWD.

From driving yours on the 1 I'll say that your car is a lot livelier than my C4S. Maybe you need to head this way and borrow my car for a day just to feel the difference in steering. I'll even pull the 150 pounds of tools I carry around out of the frunk!!! Then you can decide about the power.

Just thinking ...

 

An early happy birthday, Colonel!

There is no right answer, but here is a perspective for you:

I also own a 997 GTS, driven purely for pleasure or road trips, on the best curvy/mountain/coastal roads I can find.
The suspension magic is remarkable and 408 hp (3200 lbs) seems like plenty of thrust to weight on real world roads.

Just rented an Audi RS6 Avant (station wagon) for a month in Tuscany.
An amazing TT engine with 590 hp and 590 ft lbs, but tips the scale at 5100 lbs (it hides the weight remarkably).
Except for one launch control start, I never pushed the pedal anywhere near WOT.
Even on the autostrada, there is simply no need. It scares the crap out of passengers and engages every Italian who thinks he, or his car, is faster to tailgate and pass over solid lines and on blind curves.

Lesson is that it's far more fun to drive a slower car fast than a faster car slow.
I'm guessing you will rarely "wring out" a TT, even on an interstate highway at midnight.
But, if it moves you- go for it.
You might drive the TT you find before selling your GTS.
Keep your options open.
Good luck!

 

Off topic here but on topic below. I had two 1993 RX-7's too and took both to about 400hp. Small light cars so they were easily and inexpensively turned into rockets. How you did it with brake and suspension mods I don't know though but well done. The mods I had to do to get the boost to 400hp required intake and exhaust mods as I recall it. Both of them ridiculously inexpensive compared to what we pay for Porsche mods.

Yeah....the GTS has a different exhaust note. I don't know what it is but it has kind of a mechanical sound to it compared to a regular Carrera. I'm guessing it has something to do with the X-51 kit combined with the PSE and maybe some other bits and peices here and there. Replace the center muffler with any of the x-pipe options and now you're really talking.

Turn up the volume a bit and scroll forward to 1:49 here and you may pick up what I'm babbling about:
Good point. The AWD cars are like suction cups on the road. Takes a lot of work, bad driving and clumsiness to lose control of one. The RWD cars need a bit more attention and I think "liveliness" is a good word to describe the difference in steering wheel feel of the RWD vs. the AWD. Subjective subject

 

The turbos are just rocket ships with what feels like endless acceleration. There isn't significant boost lag in these cars like old large single turbos had. If you drive a turbo, I bet you'll end up buying it.

 

GTS is the way to go. Turbo is stupid fast but you can't use all of it....well you can but I heard Jail isn't that fun.

 

Tool Time with Tim Allen goes back a few years (TV show for those who aren't catching this reference). The basis of the show, beyond the advice of the neighbor behind the fence (who you only saw from nose up), was that you never have enough power.

Just saying ...

But I'm torn on this. I've never driven a nicer car than Joe's GTS. I've driven a lot of cars.

OK, I've got nothing here that simply won't muddy the waters. I'll stop butting in now!!!

 

Looks like your friends didn’t take your advice. lol who knew?

 

I have a GTS and my buddy has a 997.1 Turbo that is built to the nines. I owned a Rivian at the time I test drove his car and it was so exhilarating that it nudged me to sell my truck and search for a 997.2 911. I landed on a low mileage single owner GTS that was local to me. After comparing the two I certainly appreciate each for their respective values and use cases. The Turbo really is a straight up rocket ship, it made me want to just scream everywhere while driving it but I felt I was constantly out of road in my local areas. Fast forward to the GTS, although it isn't even as close to as fast, I find the drive just as fun as I am able to push it a bit more, the throttle response is insanely linear, and at least for me it made more sense as a local daily commute car.

I have since done a plethora of "mods" to try and make it as OEM+ as possible and I don't have any regrets choosing it over a turbo, especially at ~70% the price of a 997.2 in similar condition/miles.